Command of the 14th Flying Training Wing passed from one colonel to another on Wednesday during a ceremony rooted in military tradition.
Airmen, elected officials and members of the community assembled in front of a giant American flag in a hangar at Columbus Air Force Base to witness Col. Roger Watkins, who has led the base for the past two years, relinquish control to Col. Barre “Heat” Seguin.
Maj. Gen. Gregory Feest presided over the change of command, which got off to a later start than planned because Feest”s flight was delayed.
“I had an argument with a thunderstorm and a flock of birds, but thankfully I won,” Feest joked.
Feest praised the leadership by Watkins and his wife, Leslie, over the 14th Flying Training Wing and highlighted some of the unit”s accomplishments.
“Under Col. Watkins, the wing has maintained the right focus and stewardship of this beautiful base,” Feest said. “I thank you and Leslie for your outstanding service.”
Feest also presented Watkins with the Legion of Merit, the nation”s seventh highest military decoration, for “exceptionally meritorious conduct.”
Under Watkins” command, the 14th Flying Training Wing trained the first Afghani pilots in 50 years and the first Iraqi pilots since the Gulf War. Before serving at Columbus Air Force base, Watkins was the 92nd Air Refueling Wing vice commander at Fairchild Air Force Base outside of Spokane, Wash. Watkins has flown more than 3,300 flying hours as a command pilot.
Watkins revisited the pledge he made when he became commander two years ago to build a metaphorical house with four pillars — the mission, people, family and community — on a foundation of safety.
“You have done everything I have asked of you,” he said to the assembled airmen, and asked them to give the same loyalty to Seguin. “You will continue to rise to heights not even imaginable.”
Watkins thanked his wife for her dedication and support and stood before the formation of servicemen and women for one final salute.
Watkins will move on to Maxwell Air Force Base, Ala., where he”ll serve as commandant of the Squadron Officer College.
The event was charged with ceremonial observances, from the national and Air Force anthems to the exchange of flags between the two colonels.
“Sir, I assume command,” Seguin said to Feest as he accepted control of the base.
Seguin took command of the 14th Flying Training Wing seriously, but wasn”t afraid to bring a little levity to the ceremony. After being away from his family for 15 months while he was on assignment to Korea, he had asked his wife what he could get her as a homecoming gift.
“She said, ”Just buy me a fine diamond ring,”” he recounted. “Maybe my hearing is going from being around jets so long, but I could have sworn she said, ”Just take me to a flying training wing.” Honey, welcome to Columbus!”
Seguin became solemn as he turned to Feest and thanked him for the new assignment.
“Together with Team Blaze, Nancy and I will not let you down,” he said.
Seguin”s new duties as commander will include the managing the wing”s 3,100 airmen as well as overseeing a $127 million annual budget and other capital assets, which exceed $1.6 billion.
Seguin has carried out missions as an instructor pilot, flight examiner, wing chief of safety and operations officer. He participated in combat Operations Southern Watch, Deliberate Guard, Deliberate Forge and Joint Guardian. Before assuming control of the 14th Flying Training Wing, he was the commander of the 8th Operations Group in the 8th Fighter Wing at Kunsan Air Base in South Korea.
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